I admire your videos a lot, but this is not funny, and it is insulting to see you replying to people with a smiley icon instead of an apology. Next time, please do this in your own home, if you ever feel like doing it. And please think of others: there are animals and people that will get hurt with all the scattered tiny pieces of glass you left in that beautiful place, other than thw wildfires risks 😢 And to think that anyone seeing those pieces of glass would think that it was some drunk person who made it... the irony!
Drinking makes you give a f-ck about the wrong things and not give a f-ck about the important stuff. Numbs the person away from knowing self. Learned this the hard way.
4 years sober here! I can confirm this. A lot of people quit alcohol for a month or even six, and then they go back. but I tell them try a year and see how they feel. You realize you dont like most of the people you’ve hung around with. Because you value your time more and only keep a few close friends. Now that in sober Ive picked up snowboarding, mountain biking, I built a music studio, and I became a full time musician. All these things didn’t happen until I quit drinking. Its not that as soon as I quit all this fell in my lap. Once I quit drinking, I had more energy and motivation, AND WAY MORE MONEY to spend on investments that enriched my life. My advice, quit for a year, dont say you’ll never drink again but simply say I will evaluate my life after a year and see how i feel about alcohol after that. Thats what I did and now im 4 years and the happiest Ive EVER been!
Became a professional musician! That’s rad dude! I gave up alcohol for a few years but got back into it starting to date again, didn’t think it would be a problem until it got out of hand again. What are you doing as a professional musician? I’ve always thought of that as a money maker but never felt confident it would pan out.
@@vincewarren1271 I from 17-26 i was a weekend warrior drinker, then 26-34 I was a at least 6 pack a day, sometimes a lot more or less on certain days. with occasional months i would not drink at all. It wasn’t till 34 it was wearing on me physically and mentally. But Im an all or nothing drinker, If i only had the option to drink 1 beer id rather not drink at all. I liked drinking because I liked getting drunk. and to me even drinking a few beers doesn’t even seem worth it for how bad alcohol is for your body. but sobriety and the need to stop is different for everyone. you gotta find what’s in your best interest.
@@jasongravely7217 It was weird because i feel back into playing music when I moved to a ski resort town. I started playing open mics with my drummer buddy ive know for 20 years. and we played in bands in highschool, but decided to start jamming again. We were just play alt rock/punk/hard rock covers for the fun of it. Then we just started playing gigs for fun. then we started getting paid gigs. then we started getting weddings gigs where they wanted us to play rage against the machine at their receptions😆 It slowly just snowballed into something fun but lucrative, especially being in a ski resort town. you get people on vacation ready to party and its very profitable. and its a lot of fun. Doing that i was able to put together a studio so i can write and record my own stuff.
Made the decision at around 14 that I was never going to drink. I got a lot of peer pressure to drink, which actually just made me more stubborn to not drink. The only negative I’ve really come across is how other people react when you don’t drink. 32 now, and I’m perfectly happy with my decision.
My brother also made this same decision. He is 55 years of age and is rocking life - no: dad-bod (is a dad) , man-boobies (has motivation to workout), swollen face/eyes .. He played football and rugby for his college and managed to handle the peer pressure with the same strength and courage you did. In about 23 years, you will be as if not more masculine, strong and content with your life as you are currently. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
Damn steven did not expect to see you here just finished watching one of your card counting vids before this one. Anyways good for you man, I tried to make a similar decision but it ended up going in the bin because I was not in the right headspace at the time and went to alcohol, fair to say I'm in a much better headspace now.
I’m 21 and am in the same boat, it has definitely made me a better person. The one thing I’ve been struggling with is finding a partner who is willing to embrace the fact that I care about the right things.
I hear you! I’m sober 5 years and won’t go back either because of the mental clarity. Quitting cigarettes 36 yrs ago was the hardest thing I’ve done, and quitting drinking is a close second. Hard and so worthwhile. Agree with you, mark, about the dopamine rollercoast👏👏
Great message! Sober 28 years but didn't get it until I was 42 years old. Trust me, younguns, you're not giving up anything but headaches and heartaches when you say sayonara to alcohol. Life just keeps getting better in sobriety.
Sober 4 years and 9 months! I’m 40 years old now and in the best physical shape I’ve been since high school. Mentally clear, emotionally well, spiritually fit. Life isn’t boring, it’s peaceful. 🥰 Great video, Mark! Congratulations! 🤍
I'm 6 days away from 1 year alcohol free, took me about a year and half of stop starting but grateful to be at this point. Not going back now im out of the vicious cycle. I'd advise anyone to do it, you get your life back, have great clarity and the health and mental health benefits are amazing.
This about "no more fake people" is so HUGE! Congrats! Paradoxically it's, in the beginning, one of the worst and most difficult aspects of getting sober, "losing" our friends. Just another trick from our addicted brains. It's not losing, it's actually filtering the real ones. Which is great! Now you get to hang out with people you actually enjoy, and focus on building lasting fulfilling relationshits with them, instead of pouring hours and hours of time and other resources like money, and even mental health on people that don't even give a f.uck about ya, and what's worse, most of the time, we also don't give about them. Go go sober team! :D
Tomorrow is 7 months clean for me. Was drinking about 5 days/week with friends, coworkers and solo. I always hated the next day after heavy drinking - woke up with mad anxiety tripping out over what I had said or how I acted. No more of that. Sober, working out, running and eating right. Lost 30lbs and now I'm shredded feeling and looking like a champ. Fck booze.
I've been sober for over 5 years and I almost fell off the wagon recently while vacationing in Tokyo. It's still a battle every day. Never let your guard down. Stay strong.
Stay strong, man - I was sober for just over three years and fell off the wagon two years ago a couple of months after my dad passed away. Worst decision of my life.... I'm still trying to get back on the wagon...
If you haven’t read Allen car’s “the easy way to quit drinking” and done the final hypnotherapy I recommend it! It might make it easier because it shifts your mindset.
That’s awesome Mark! 5 years sober here. One of the best parts of it is being totally present in life and experiencing every moment at a deeper level, with all the good and bad. I can’t even tell how alive it feels.
I wish this WHOLE video was not 100% true. I quit 8 months and 9 days ago. I honestly can't believe how much its changed my life drinking from 21 to 41
That's freaking awesome 👍🏼 15 years here and my self awareness and outlook on life has increasingly grown for the better. Keep going! It gets better and life's still fucking wild!
My socialising basically went to zero. Stood there at a work Social Club function, 0.0% beer in hand, watching everyone else around me get absolutely tanked, loose, and doing stuff they will definitely regret the next day - it just wasn't fun. I realised that i only wanted to socialise with these people when i was drunk enough to actually have a rapport with them. Without that inebriation, no rapport!! Was a bit of a revelation really. Still have a beer or cider with a restaurant lunch, but that's it. Gone are the days of drunken Friday nights, hazy memory, empty wallet and 2-day hangover. Don't miss it at all. Almost no friends whatsoever now, but what i do have is quality rather than quantity.
Im four months now. I was thinking yesterday its actually bizarre paying so much money to feel like crap the next day, not remember anything, and probably act like a twat. At this point cant see myself ever having a drink again.
Great point of absurdity of it. I can’t afford drinking in any sense, too much is going on for me right now. I need to be in my best shape to deal with everything
Alcohol and cigarettes addiction actually destroyed my life. I could remember several years ago after divorce with my wife which brought me into my disastrous journey on Alcohol and cigarettes. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until a friend recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.
Yes he's Dr.alishrooms. My daughter did straight shrooms in few days. Made her whole! after words, no more addictions, pains, ptsd and depression. It helped us.
Saw people talking about..checked him out, I must say he's good at what he does. My son is clean 1 year now. Good luck. just micro dose and you won't trip. Mushrooms helped my son get off opioid.
I'm in the third month of my sobriety journey. I wanted to stop drinking a while ago but your videos helped me to actually make the decision. Thanks, man. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made.
I too have ADHD and realized that I was addicted to stress and adrenaline. Cutting alcohol has made life much more peaceful and I now seek adrenaline through sports, working out, and an occasional cup of coffee. You stay in better shape, achieve more out of live, remain more level headed, and can allocate more calories towards foods you love instead of pints and cups of empty calories. Overall life is better not poisoning yourself 2-3 times every single week.
Adhd here too! Indeed, adrenaline/endorphines cam be found in many different places. I mostly get it from exercise and trying new stuff/experiences..can be anything.
@@randombutrelevantyeah, it’s crazy once you realize it. I love dopamine too, I just try my best to get all the chemicals in the healthy ways and not the cheap ways. Keep it up!
I’m 35 and have never had a drop. I work as a firefighter now and it’s solidified my desire to NOT drink even more. Waste of money and ruins peoples lives left and right.
A drink will not kill you. I find people that have never had a drink and bring it up often very annoying. I sat next to a guy at work and he seemed to bring it up endlessly. At the same time he drank a large Mt. Dew for breakfast and lunch EVERY DAY, and was easily 50 lbs overweight with a penchant for Arby's.
@@Joe-ny2up Trump claims to have never been a drinker too. And he is a big-ol boy. In fact, alcohol is naturally created in your guts from fermentation. Anyone who eats "carbs" will have a measurable amount of alcohol in their blood. Some people, (autofermenters) might have sizeable amounts and they get that from eating fermentable carbs. Fermented beverages are a major part of the last 10k+ years of human history. And judging by basically ANY family/social event I've been to, a very useful tool for one's sanity. Remember folks, you can't change people, but you CAN change the way you feel about them. Glug.
“Alcohol holds you back”… when I heard this, it resonated. There were so many things that I wanted to accomplish, and I realized that drinking stole my time. When I quit alcohol, mental clarity improved and my physical energy increased. I had more $ in the bank (alcohol was sooooo expensive.) Yes, alcohol does hold you back! Don’t let it hold you back. ❤❤❤
I agree. 4 years also. After the last few years, the landscape is totally different for me. I had multiple bereavements and began working for myself. I now have a very successful property business and feel healthy. I don't miss it one bit.
I was also a chronic drinker and quit shy of my 40th birthday. Best decision ever. I really started to see how alcohol narrows your life down to a lousy small path.
It's crazy how different people's self discovery paths can be. My whole life, I thought I was an introvert, not a people person, etc. Now that I have learned how to deal with social anxiety, I am a huge extrovert. I'm a teacher, public speaker, tutor, technical trainer, and a volunteer for tons of nonprofits. Every day that I am out in the world helping other people is a good day. And I try to make that every day.
12 years sober. I thank past me for choosing this path every day!! Although me struggles didn't go away, it's a lot easier to manage, learn, and grow from them now. I rate this path 10/10 and highly recommend! 💛
I‘m almost 10 months sober. Best decision I‘ve ever made! ☺️ And it‘s so nice to read the comments and see that I‘m not the only one who thinks & lives that way. 🙏🏼
I'm watching this video on a day when I'm hungover and debating quitting forever. Thanks for the motivation. Your timing is perfect, releasing it on a Sunday morning. lol
@@IAmMarkManson Mark, I'm in. I'll get back to you in 30 days on this thread. I literally ended up drinking a bottle of wine, two cans of wine, and half a vodka/grapefruit cocktail last night, by myself, starting at 6pm, because I was bored and dislike being by myself, even though I'm generally introverted. But at age 43, on the day of a hangover, I feel like I'm dying and my IQ drops about 50%. I also have a bunch of personal goals I want to accomplish and my intuition is that I need to be sober to accomplish them.
I have made the decision to give up alcohol for 12 weeks. I'm starting a 12-week workout program and I really want to focus in on my nutrition, which includes eliminating alcohol. I'm scared, but also really excited to see how this will change things. I've been wanting to do this for years, and would sometimes give up alcohol for 30 days, would feel amazing, but then would go back to drinking again. It's not like a drink a lot - a glass of wine a couple of times a week, or a few on the weekend, but I can tell it affects me, and so I'm committing to 12 weeks. 12 WEEKS. I hope that 12 weeks leads to FOREVER. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's inspiring.
I was drinking just a glass here and there... A friend and I are starting a 60 day wagon ride. I was/AM on a slippery slope and have lost a lot of motivation. When I did not drink I had a lot of motivation and very little anxiety. You are not alone in making the plan where 12 weeks (or 8 weeks) leads to forever. Congratulations.
This is exactly what I've been trying to figure out. It's very deeply encouraging to see what it looks like on the other side, after you've spent years adapting to fewer dopamine addiction behaviors, less of those that are at all healthy, and more real life. Thank you. And now I'm terrified and about to take the next steps. OK, now I may be a bit pissed off that you hit the nail quite so accurately on the head. Thank you, anyway.
In recent years there has been an alarming decrease in beach glass, thank god someone is doing something about it! A year or two and that glass will be smoother than a baby's behind!
I remember back in the day when glass bottles were allowed at the beach, it was always a crap shoot walking barefoot in the sand, especially near the fire pits. Watching him do that made me cringe. I hoped it was some kind of special effect but I guess not.
Besides enjoying boredom, I enjoy celebrating, dancing flirting, friends, much more than ever. So doing all the things that made me anxious doing now sober is an amazing relief and great process. I am feeling like a superhero for myself. Finally I am learning to be how I always wanted to be in an amazingly healthy way.
After 42 years of heavy drinking, I am 2 years sober. I am loving sobriety like the end of a summer romance. It won't end as long as I don't drink. My life was worthless garbage, and now it's great. I literally went from being homeless and unemployable to having a good job and living in a nice neighborhood in less than 2 years! That's insane! 😮
Great video. I quit drinking twenty years ago and I'm so glad that I did. I just sent your video to my 21-year-old son to watch. He will learn a lot from it too. Thanks.
I experienced a similar thing, that being content with simple 'boring' things, less excitement and novelty etc but it wasn't quitting drinking - it was turning forty.
I'm from Berlin and have been drinking since I was 13 years old. Berlin is known for its techno, legendary parties, and vibrant cultural scene. However, over the past 10 years, I've noticed that many people here are superficial and lack profound goals. It's easy to get lost in this city and use alcohol as an identity anchor. Last year, I decided to abstain from alcohol for three months, and it was a rewarding experience. While I did return to the habit in the summer as Berlin came alive, this year I've been completely clean for over four months. Since December, I haven't touched alcohol and I feel great about it. I resonate with many points Mark makes in his video. I used to consider myself extroverted and loud, but I discovered many introverted sides to myself, such as my love for reading, education, and writing stories that captivate me. I had these interests as a child but suppressed them, thinking I had to constantly go out and party. I'm grateful to have left that lifestyle behind. There's a possibility of relapse, but I no longer see a reason to consume alcohol or define myself by it. I've realized that my circle of friends is toxic in this regard, so I'm increasingly distancing myself from it. At the same time, I'm building my own business as a TH-camr and focusing on my personal growth and happiness.
I'm pretty heavily involved in the music scene in London and a little conflicted on this. I think there is actually so much merit to music and parties in almost a spiritual sense if used as a tool intentionally. Just when the cycle of abuse starts where it can get ugly.
#me too! 😂 I’m 3 plus months in on no drinking and I’m all in on never going back myself. Thanks Mark for what you do! Your books have had a profound impact on my life for many years now. Truly appreciate your insight. ❤
Thanks for posting the vid! I was an adrenaline junkie as well- an avid surfer, skydiver, sailor, rock climber, etc. After around 10 years sober, I realized I just don't need that much stimulation anymore. My definition and experience of 'fun' has transformed. I actually enjoy tranquility nowadays, some 9,522 days sober, but who's counting ;-)
Well done on the 500 days! Thank you for the update and the reflection on your relationships, hobbies and drive! I also appreciate you mentioning how spontaneity was a *high* and not really that fulfilling as you are not plugged into anything long enough to gain true joy from it or to become masterful or attached. Wise reflection. Anyhow, I am cheering you on! I am also working on my own journey again. Your videos help!
This all sounds like a lot more internal change than just not drinking. I took a look at my health and realized this was a choice I had to make. And its been good. Many of the revelations you go through in this video sound to me like my process over the decades, like maturity. I'm happy for you. You will look back on this as when you made real progress..
Growing older, we mostly do change our drinking habits, I agree--I'm talking about social drinkers, not alcoholics. We go out less, our interests alter. Myself, I started experiencing hangxiety. It's really unpleasant, and to avoid it I have pretty much given up drinking. I've experienced many of the changes Mark talks about, though I put them down also to maturing and evolving with age.
@@ivat957 I had no such problem. Loved it but did the math and after 40 years of drimking I had to quit before my liver turned technicolor and my belly reached my knees. So be it, its fine. I'm glad I was able to quit and the benefits are real.
Damn, i tick every box. Drank more than 15y, diagnosed with adhd with 12, far more introverted than i thought… i‘m sober 8 days now and i already feel new, my gym sessions got harder and better. And oh god the sleep it‘s wonderful. Can‘t wait for more results to show 😍
I did a 7 mile trail hike/run this morning. When I was done, I took out a chair, put it in the shade, and did my work. Exercise is a big part of loving sobriety - getting a bit exasperated from something (other than drink) and actually chilling afterwards... gotta do it. Gotta find that radness somewhere, and then sit with it. All the neuro/physiological shit is already happening... you just gotta sit with it and watch. We all want something to happen - mindfulness is there for you, if you just take a moment. Rad vid. Gratitude.
LOL you crazy if you think these influencer types are capable of thinking about others, he got his video, did the ad read, who cares if there is glass everywhere.
You have been such an inspiration. I quit 4 months ago and am facing some of the situations you’ve described. I am sure there’s so many more to come. In general, I feel much more present in life and this is great (and also challenging, because you look both the good and the bad stuff right in the eye). Still dealing with light cravings that last less than 1 second, and when I do, I come to your videos to recharge my energy. Thank you! As to the boredom - it is minimized by the fact I have an energetic 6 yo boy😂❤
Almost sober a year now and this couldn’t have come out at a better time. Life has been really rough lately and I’ve been craving the bottle so much. Thank you for everything you’ve put out so far Mark. Just finished rereading the subtle art also. You help so many of us ❤️
Learning new ways to self-soothe is really essential for long term success. Try to find what you truly emotionally crave and give yourself that. Don't punish yourself for your emotional needs ❤ that's what helped me.
Such an inspiring journey! It's remarkable how you've navigated through challenges post-alcohol and found contentment in simplicity and commitment. The insights on pleasure and productivity are really thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing your impactful story!
I don’t drink and it’s definitely true when he says life feels more boring. My social life is very small almost non existent, I struggle to enjoy trips sometimes, I don’t really commit to anything, I have had no intimacy with anyone these past couple of years and I don’t know what makes me happy. I am going to therapy for this at the moment because it’s impacting my mental health a lot in ways you can’t believe. I find it interesting when mark said that when you lack intimacy and happiness you fill the void with novelty and excitement which makes sense for me because I hate when everyday feels the same. Whereas lots of people I know are so relaxed with having a consistent routine. I know one thing I want to do with my life and that is to be a father and a loving partner and as cringey as that sounds, since I was a young teen I’ve always had that dream. In therapy I started to realise that I didn’t have much of an emotional connection with my parents and then when my friends and ex partners moved on I was left with just myself. Little to non emotional connection isn’t healthy because we are hard wired for connection and that’s what I’m working on with my therapist at the moment.
I got up to six months and then had a week off whilst in Poland, now back to square one. I have to keep watching videos like these to remind me that excitement and fun are definitely not the same, and when everyone around you is drinking in the sunshine in the UK (which is rare for us to have sunshine) that they are ultimately paying to be someone else and I simply don't want to do that anymore. And I did take up crotchet and it is just lovely, I thoroughly recommend. Love your work Mark, please never stop.
Congrats!! I've been sober 6 months now, having been a chronic drinker till them. I don't see myself ever going back. I just feel so much better. Alcohol was great at the time, but I'm happier without it.
I am an on again off again alcoholic... It has gotten worser and worser as I age. I'm 37 and began drinking heavily at 17-ish. I have ALWAYS been an anti-social drinker, in fact I hate being around people consuming booze because we are so annoying. I absolutely love going to the liquor store, buying my booze, coming home and throwing the hard liquor in the freezer and then taking ice cold shots in front of my computer until I get drunk, have some food and pass out. Usually I never remember the passing out part. But, it's destroyed everything... I've lost jobs, girlfriends, been to jail, detox, hospitalized many times and have suffered the worst of the worst alcohol withdrawal that I'm SHOCKED my brain hasn't imploded on itself with all the shaking and hallucinations I have gone through. It's absolute hell, but the moment I feel better I want more...and I usually get more. A few months ago I hit my absolute zenith in terms of boozing. I was drunk for a month straight. STRAIGHT. With nothing but hard liquor delivered to my apartment over and over and over. At least I had the sense not to drink and drive this time. This being said after about two weeks into this my parents basically barged into my apartment after not hearing from me for 2 weeks and found me passed out surrounded by gin bottles. They took me to the hospital where they treated me. A few days later I was still very shaky, but then something snapped and I don't remember the next two weeks at all. I vaguely remember "coming to" and not knowing what day or time it was, but somehow I ALWAYS got more booze. I know I got it delivered because it was on my card transactions, but the fact I was able to fake being sober (or even stand up due to withdrawal AND intoxication) long enough to give the delivery person my ID is incredible... Eventually I called my mother and was taken to the hospital again and forced to stay for three days as they kept me for withdrawal and everything that comes with it. I was sick for almost a month, and I mean truly sick. The first two weeks I could barely get out of bed or keep anything in my body. I couldn't eat, threw up all the time and was a mess... I had to file for a leave of absence from work and finally admit to my company that I was an alcoholic who needed help. So, fast forward. Since I returned to work in December 2023 I was doing really well. I had medication for booze craving (Naltrexone), I had an addiction therapist, I had a new doctor, my job was just happy I was back and I was finally able to move out on my own (I CRAVE being alone)... I thought I had finally beat it. Then in late April I had another bout, this time it was only a week, but it was the same pattern again... Lay in bed, downing booze, getting it delivered. This time I caught it early and called my mom to be taken to the hospital, which I was only there for a few hours. My point is... I don't think I'll ever be rid of booze. Ever. It's too powerful. My brain is TOO hooked on it. My habits are TOO focused on it... And you know what? Part of me enjoys the rotting away of my body and brain. The death drive. The wanting of not to exist. I firmly believe my booze trip back in October 2023 was a suicide attempt and it would not shock me if I ended up doing it again, only this time PLANNING it instead of it just happening. This was a great video, but sadly I'm too far gone. I'm essentially just waiting for it to kill me now.
Stopped drinking alcohol about 25 years ago. I got much pickier about things I do, the people I interact with and other things. Live got certainly better.
I love dancing but I used to spend a fortune on Alcohol and food anytime I went out. I no longer do that. I now eat at home before I go out, and drink water or diet soda when I go out. I still have a blast dancing to the live music, burn off some stress and calories in the process, and then go home. I also don't have to deal with being tired and hung over the next day, and I don't have to pay for a Taxi or Uber to get home, so I save a LOT of money. The weird thing about it is I never really likely Alcoholic drinks that much in the first place. I only started drinking to fit in with social groups. So I was literally spending money on something that brought me no joy at all. I still more or less have the same friends, and sometimes they buy me a drink when we go out. However, i've told them when they do buy me a drink I won't be buying them one in return. That got the message across quickly that I was serious.
I just asked siri “ how many days have passed since 21 st of October 2022” Turned out it’s been 555 days since I stopped drinking. I’m so happy that I stopped counting days 😃
Really appreciate your video, I stopped drinking alcohol around 3 months ago. It started as a self-experiment but man, it changed so many things for the better. I lost weight, I sleep better, I do more exercise, I am more productive. Exactly as you describe. And it is not so awkward as I thought to go out with people who drink. At least the first few drinks. Then I am amused to see how people's behaviour changes for the worse and thank god I am not not behaving like this anymore. It was a shock to see and realize that I was one of them before. It looks like people use alcohol to cope with something else in their life but not realising that stopping to drink will actually improve their lives for the better. I am not craving drinks, I do not think about alcohol, I just enjoy the many alternatives and the feeling of taking good care of my body and soul. Highly recommendable.
I'm sober for 4+ years and it's been the BEST thing I've ever done for my mental health. I had no idea how much alcohol was jacking up my mental health until I got sober. I'm not dissing therapy but I've not found the need to sit in a therapist's office since I quit drinking.
Why does the alcohol debate online appear to be between going teetotal or going to the club every weekend and drinking oneself into a coma? Skip the club, enjoy a glass of wine with a book. Abstention is tedious, addiction is ruinous, cheers to the middle! 🍷
For some people (like myself) moderation is not a possibility. Being 100% alcohol free is the only way for me to live and not ruin my life. And having just 1, 2 or even 3 drinks is painfully depressing.
Once I start I can’t stop. That being said you’d be shocked at how bad one drink can screw with your hormones. Alcohol is poison, even one glass of wine will have to be processed by your body, then you will have to recover from it. You probably don’t notice because you’re so used to it.
Ive been sober for 2 years. I didn't drink, go out, have shit loads of sex, or any of that. I would get drunk at my house and have a blast playing video games, drawing, and whatever other hobbies I did. I went to the gym a ton, still do now. I gave it up because I Woke up feeling like I need to go to the e.r. because I thought I was a blink away from death, and I spent too much money on ebay. I had no control. So I gave it up. I can honestly say I have noticed 0 differences other than those few negative things being gone. I enjoyed it, and I do miss it. But being sober, I feel I have gone this long, may as well keep going.
Your path in the last 500 days closely parallels mine. I was never a big drinker, but more generally I chose to slowly amputate all forms of cheap dopamine from my life: alcohol, weed, junk food, parties with people I don't know or care about, etc. This forced me to fill the void with something actually meaningful. Now I've never been more peaceful and fulfilled, despite being less social and spontaneous. My desire for novelty has tended towards zero. Thank you for clarifying my mind.
A good quote from Joe Delaney (search him on here, his videos are great) re: the whole "lack of fun/excitement" thing that often snags people early in their sober journey:- "Most days in life will be mundane. Sometimes you will do good shit, but for the most part you have to make doing shit good". Loved this quote as soon as I saw it and links in nicely with a stoic attitude about accepting your surroundings etc and making the absolute most of every present moment.
This is why i like people like mark. They had a problem they over come it and they share their views. Not just quoting 100 other people as some so called productivity "EXPERT" or "GURU" does.
It was not until I stopped drinking that I realized how much of my life revolved around alcohol. I invested my newfound time and energy ( because I was now properly sleeping) in reading, learning, work and exercising. I have tripled my income, am more emotionally stable and can think clearly.
I’m about 600 and best choice I have ever made. My hubby struggles with addiction and I knew I could not continue to drink as my priority was to support him and his journey. My health is so much better. And the calm mind I never expected.
Relax everybody. We cleaned up the glass. 😂
People are just looking to get offended by anything they can 😅😅
Thanks, man. I was hyperventilating 🙂
Honestly that sequence stressed me out!
I admire your videos a lot, but this is not funny, and it is insulting to see you replying to people with a smiley icon instead of an apology. Next time, please do this in your own home, if you ever feel like doing it. And please think of others: there are animals and people that will get hurt with all the scattered tiny pieces of glass you left in that beautiful place, other than thw wildfires risks 😢 And to think that anyone seeing those pieces of glass would think that it was some drunk person who made it... the irony!
@@monicaparra6523 you didn’t read the comment did you?
I've been sober for 33 years and one thing is for certain, BEST decision I ever made! It was the key to getting back my life!
Keep up the great work
Drinking makes you give a f-ck about the wrong things and not give a f-ck about the important stuff. Numbs the person away from knowing self. Learned this the hard way.
So true
Well said 😂 so true
Nicely put
Damn this was deep. I just visualized everything in my life when I read this
Absolutely 💯
4 years sober here! I can confirm this. A lot of people quit alcohol for a month or even six, and then they go back. but I tell them try a year and see how they feel. You realize you dont like most of the people you’ve hung around with. Because you value your time more and only keep a few close friends. Now that in sober Ive picked up snowboarding, mountain biking, I built a music studio, and I became a full time musician. All these things didn’t happen until I quit drinking. Its not that as soon as I quit all this fell in my lap. Once I quit drinking, I had more energy and motivation, AND WAY MORE MONEY to spend on investments that enriched my life. My advice, quit for a year, dont say you’ll never drink again but simply say I will evaluate my life after a year and see how i feel about alcohol after that. Thats what I did and now im 4 years and the happiest Ive EVER been!
How often did you drink when you were a drinker? I've cut back to once per week and have noticed my motivation rising to do old and new hobbies again.
Became a professional musician! That’s rad dude! I gave up alcohol for a few years but got back into it starting to date again, didn’t think it would be a problem until it got out of hand again. What are you doing as a professional musician? I’ve always thought of that as a money maker but never felt confident it would pan out.
@@vincewarren1271 I from 17-26 i was a weekend warrior drinker, then 26-34 I was a at least 6 pack a day, sometimes a lot more or less on certain days. with occasional months i would not drink at all. It wasn’t till 34 it was wearing on me physically and mentally. But Im an all or nothing drinker, If i only had the option to drink 1 beer id rather not drink at all. I liked drinking because I liked getting drunk. and to me even drinking a few beers doesn’t even seem worth it for how bad alcohol is for your body. but sobriety and the need to stop is different for everyone. you gotta find what’s in your best interest.
@@jasongravely7217 It was weird because i feel back into playing music when I moved to a ski resort town. I started playing open mics with my drummer buddy ive know for 20 years. and we played in bands in highschool, but decided to start jamming again. We were just play alt rock/punk/hard rock covers for the fun of it. Then we just started playing gigs for fun. then we started getting paid gigs. then we started getting weddings gigs where they wanted us to play rage against the machine at their receptions😆 It slowly just snowballed into something fun but lucrative, especially being in a ski resort town. you get people on vacation ready to party and its very profitable. and its a lot of fun. Doing that i was able to put together a studio so i can write and record my own stuff.
That framing of “I’m not quitting for good but I’ll re-assess” is brilliant. Avoids restrictive thinking. Thanks for sharing!
Made the decision at around 14 that I was never going to drink.
I got a lot of peer pressure to drink, which actually just made me more stubborn to not drink.
The only negative I’ve really come across is how other people react when you don’t drink.
32 now, and I’m perfectly happy with my decision.
My brother also made this same decision. He is 55 years of age and is rocking life - no: dad-bod (is a dad) , man-boobies (has motivation to workout), swollen face/eyes .. He played football and rugby for his college and managed to handle the peer pressure with the same strength and courage you did. In about 23 years, you will be as if not more masculine, strong and content with your life as you are currently. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
Their reaction says a lot about them. Good for you 🎉
Damn steven did not expect to see you here just finished watching one of your card counting vids before this one. Anyways good for you man, I tried to make a similar decision but it ended up going in the bin because I was not in the right headspace at the time and went to alcohol, fair to say I'm in a much better headspace now.
I’m 21 and am in the same boat, it has definitely made me a better person. The one thing I’ve been struggling with is finding a partner who is willing to embrace the fact that I care about the right things.
Steven the card counting goat
Sober gang!! I’m 4 years in and never going back. The mental clarity is by far the most beneficial aspect.
I hear you! I’m sober 5 years and won’t go back either because of the mental clarity. Quitting cigarettes 36 yrs ago was the hardest thing I’ve done, and quitting drinking is a close second. Hard and so worthwhile. Agree with you, mark, about the dopamine rollercoast👏👏
W
4 years sober myself. Night and day difference.
Great message! Sober 28 years but didn't get it until I was 42 years old. Trust me, younguns, you're not giving up anything but headaches and heartaches when you say sayonara to alcohol. Life just keeps getting better in sobriety.
I'm in year 4!
Down 100 lbs!
Walk 2.5 miles a day!
Thank you Mark!
❤
Sober 4 years and 9 months! I’m 40 years old now and in the best physical shape I’ve been since high school. Mentally clear, emotionally well, spiritually fit. Life isn’t boring, it’s peaceful. 🥰 Great video, Mark! Congratulations! 🤍
I'm 6 days away from 1 year alcohol free, took me about a year and half of stop starting but grateful to be at this point. Not going back now im out of the vicious cycle. I'd advise anyone to do it, you get your life back, have great clarity and the health and mental health benefits are amazing.
Sober about 5 years now and it’s amazing!! No more hangovers, lost a ton of weight, no more fake people around me, it’s great! Not going back! ❤
I'm 74 days today
@@dg9015 That’s great!! So happy for you!! 💪 ❤️
@@suzy7773 thanks, 79 days today
This about "no more fake people" is so HUGE! Congrats!
Paradoxically it's, in the beginning, one of the worst and most difficult aspects of getting sober, "losing" our friends. Just another trick from our addicted brains. It's not losing, it's actually filtering the real ones. Which is great! Now you get to hang out with people you actually enjoy, and focus on building lasting fulfilling relationshits with them, instead of pouring hours and hours of time and other resources like money, and even mental health on people that don't even give a f.uck about ya, and what's worse, most of the time, we also don't give about them.
Go go sober team! :D
@@suzy7773 thanks mate
Tomorrow is 7 months clean for me.
Was drinking about 5 days/week with friends, coworkers and solo. I always hated the next day after heavy drinking - woke up with mad anxiety tripping out over what I had said or how I acted. No more of that. Sober, working out, running and eating right. Lost 30lbs and now I'm shredded feeling and looking like a champ. Fck booze.
I love seeing all the comments from the sober community. I’m 5 years sober and it’s the best thing I’ve done for myself.
Your first video is what got me to day 100 this week. Thank you.
I've been sober for over 5 years and I almost fell off the wagon recently while vacationing in Tokyo. It's still a battle every day. Never let your guard down. Stay strong.
Stay strong, man - I was sober for just over three years and fell off the wagon two years ago a couple of months after my dad passed away. Worst decision of my life.... I'm still trying to get back on the wagon...
If you haven’t read Allen car’s “the easy way to quit drinking” and done the final hypnotherapy I recommend it! It might make it easier because it shifts your mindset.
That’s awesome Mark! 5 years sober here. One of the best parts of it is being totally present in life and experiencing every moment at a deeper level, with all the good and bad. I can’t even tell how alive it feels.
I wish this WHOLE video was not 100% true. I quit 8 months and 9 days ago. I honestly can't believe how much its changed my life drinking from 21 to 41
We almost have the same sober date. I’m 8/10/2023. Good on us!
Almost 2 years. Never going back.
same here bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nice work
Me too!!! 2 years in a couple weeks.
Little bit is good for health
@@Batman-vr6jp Nope. Its literally a poison. It has zero health benefits.
Same here
These are by far the best videos being produced on TH-cam right now.
Keep it up Mark and team!
That's freaking awesome 👍🏼 15 years here and my self awareness and outlook on life has increasingly grown for the better. Keep going! It gets better and life's still fucking wild!
My socialising basically went to zero. Stood there at a work Social Club function, 0.0% beer in hand, watching everyone else around me get absolutely tanked, loose, and doing stuff they will definitely regret the next day - it just wasn't fun. I realised that i only wanted to socialise with these people when i was drunk enough to actually have a rapport with them. Without that inebriation, no rapport!! Was a bit of a revelation really. Still have a beer or cider with a restaurant lunch, but that's it. Gone are the days of drunken Friday nights, hazy memory, empty wallet and 2-day hangover. Don't miss it at all. Almost no friends whatsoever now, but what i do have is quality rather than quantity.
Im four months now. I was thinking yesterday its actually bizarre paying so much money to feel like crap the next day, not remember anything, and probably act like a twat. At this point cant see myself ever having a drink again.
Great point of absurdity of it. I can’t afford drinking in any sense, too much is going on for me right now. I need to be in my best shape to deal with everything
4 months here too! 🎉
These realities make the little urges to drink disappear. Hangovers would literally wipe out my entire weekend. And yeah I was probably a twat.
Alcohol and cigarettes addiction actually destroyed my life. I could remember several years ago after divorce with my wife which brought me into my disastrous journey on Alcohol and cigarettes. I suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Not until a friend recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 8 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms.
Yes Dr.alishrooms
How do I reach out to him? Is he on insta
Yes he's Dr.alishrooms. My daughter did straight shrooms in few days. Made her whole! after words, no more addictions, pains, ptsd and depression. It helped us.
Thanks for sharing this great information, this would help my son.
Saw people talking about..checked him out, I must say he's good at what he does. My son is clean 1 year now. Good luck. just micro dose and you won't trip. Mushrooms helped my son get off opioid.
I'm on day 476, I'll catch you soon!!
Crappy jokes aside, I'm 51 and can confirm it's a hugely positive change.
I'm in the third month of my sobriety journey. I wanted to stop drinking a while ago but your videos helped me to actually make the decision. Thanks, man. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Super happy for you and I think the future you and the ppl who truly care about you will come to appreciate the person you will become in time.
I too have ADHD and realized that I was addicted to stress and adrenaline. Cutting alcohol has made life much more peaceful and I now seek adrenaline through sports, working out, and an occasional cup of coffee. You stay in better shape, achieve more out of live, remain more level headed, and can allocate more calories towards foods you love instead of pints and cups of empty calories. Overall life is better not poisoning yourself 2-3 times every single week.
Adhd here too! Indeed, adrenaline/endorphines cam be found in many different places. I mostly get it from exercise and trying new stuff/experiences..can be anything.
@@randombutrelevantyeah, it’s crazy once you realize it. I love dopamine too, I just try my best to get all the chemicals in the healthy ways and not the cheap ways. Keep it up!
I’m 35 and have never had a drop. I work as a firefighter now and it’s solidified my desire to NOT drink even more. Waste of money and ruins peoples lives left and right.
Yea I just hate how they promote this junk all over commercial and billboards like it's the best thing youll ever have . It's pure bs .
A drink will not kill you. I find people that have never had a drink and bring it up often very annoying. I sat next to a guy at work and he seemed to bring it up endlessly. At the same time he drank a large Mt. Dew for breakfast and lunch EVERY DAY, and was easily 50 lbs overweight with a penchant for Arby's.
@@Joe-ny2up Trump claims to have never been a drinker too. And he is a big-ol boy. In fact, alcohol is naturally created in your guts from fermentation. Anyone who eats "carbs" will have a measurable amount of alcohol in their blood. Some people, (autofermenters) might have sizeable amounts and they get that from eating fermentable carbs. Fermented beverages are a major part of the last 10k+ years of human history. And judging by basically ANY family/social event I've been to, a very useful tool for one's sanity. Remember folks, you can't change people, but you CAN change the way you feel about them. Glug.
@@Joe-ny2up 😂😂😂
A drink isn’t the issue but good for you.
This is about making your entire social experience about alcohol. It’s a huge issue and good for him.
Great work showering the walking path in glass. Well done sober you.
Like why smash glass all over that beautiful place😢?
Stop being such a stick in the mud. He cleaned it up and says so.
calm down jhonny boy
I have 8 months today! Never going back!
Congrats 🎉 keep your head up look forward that 12 months and things will get much easier
No slips in eight months?
Congratulations!!
“Alcohol holds you back”… when I heard this, it resonated. There were so many things that I wanted to accomplish, and I realized that drinking stole my time. When I quit alcohol, mental clarity improved and my physical energy increased. I had more $ in the bank (alcohol was sooooo expensive.) Yes, alcohol does hold you back! Don’t let it hold you back. ❤❤❤
Me too .😊 My bank account looking good I'm not rich but I'm for sure better than I was . Do happy for you
I agree. 4 years also. After the last few years, the landscape is totally different for me. I had multiple bereavements and began working for myself. I now have a very successful property business and feel healthy. I don't miss it one bit.
@@jennifer-jayneashley8516 🤘🏽💯
Nearly 2 years. I quit smoking and alcohol at the same time.
How 😢 I'm genuinely envy.
Proud of you! That's awesome
@@kaloyanstefanov2388 do it for yourself and others
I was also a chronic drinker and quit shy of my 40th birthday. Best decision ever. I really started to see how alcohol narrows your life down to a lousy small path.
It's crazy how different people's self discovery paths can be. My whole life, I thought I was an introvert, not a people person, etc. Now that I have learned how to deal with social anxiety, I am a huge extrovert. I'm a teacher, public speaker, tutor, technical trainer, and a volunteer for tons of nonprofits. Every day that I am out in the world helping other people is a good day. And I try to make that every day.
12 years sober. I thank past me for choosing this path every day!! Although me struggles didn't go away, it's a lot easier to manage, learn, and grow from them now. I rate this path 10/10 and highly recommend! 💛
I‘m almost 10 months sober. Best decision I‘ve ever made! ☺️ And it‘s so nice to read the comments and see that I‘m not the only one who thinks & lives that way. 🙏🏼
Bro I run barefoot on that trail wtf
What a douchebag that Mark
I'm watching this video on a day when I'm hungover and debating quitting forever. Thanks for the motivation. Your timing is perfect, releasing it on a Sunday morning. lol
Do it! Do 30 days... Starting now!
@@IAmMarkManson Mark, I'm in. I'll get back to you in 30 days on this thread. I literally ended up drinking a bottle of wine, two cans of wine, and half a vodka/grapefruit cocktail last night, by myself, starting at 6pm, because I was bored and dislike being by myself, even though I'm generally introverted. But at age 43, on the day of a hangover, I feel like I'm dying and my IQ drops about 50%. I also have a bunch of personal goals I want to accomplish and my intuition is that I need to be sober to accomplish them.
@@mikeshafer Good luck.
Following. We're watching you👀@@mikeshafer make yourself proud!
@mikeshafer You can do it! It’s worth it! You matter!! 🤍
I have made the decision to give up alcohol for 12 weeks. I'm starting a 12-week workout program and I really want to focus in on my nutrition, which includes eliminating alcohol. I'm scared, but also really excited to see how this will change things. I've been wanting to do this for years, and would sometimes give up alcohol for 30 days, would feel amazing, but then would go back to drinking again. It's not like a drink a lot - a glass of wine a couple of times a week, or a few on the weekend, but I can tell it affects me, and so I'm committing to 12 weeks. 12 WEEKS. I hope that 12 weeks leads to FOREVER. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's inspiring.
I was drinking just a glass here and there... A friend and I are starting a 60 day wagon ride. I was/AM on a slippery slope and have lost a lot of motivation. When I did not drink I had a lot of motivation and very little anxiety. You are not alone in making the plan where 12 weeks (or 8 weeks) leads to forever. Congratulations.
Thanks for this Mark! I’m 29 now and I’m already thinking about getting sober. Your video and book motivated me even more! Cheers!
This is exactly what I've been trying to figure out. It's very deeply encouraging to see what it looks like on the other side, after you've spent years adapting to fewer dopamine addiction behaviors, less of those that are at all healthy, and more real life. Thank you. And now I'm terrified and about to take the next steps. OK, now I may be a bit pissed off that you hit the nail quite so accurately on the head. Thank you, anyway.
In recent years there has been an alarming decrease in beach glass, thank god someone is doing something about it! A year or two and that glass will be smoother than a baby's behind!
I remember back in the day when glass bottles were allowed at the beach, it was always a crap shoot walking barefoot in the sand, especially near the fire pits. Watching him do that made me cringe. I hoped it was some kind of special effect but I guess not.
I hope you cleaned up the glass, just saying, my friend walks her dog there.
Yeah what the hell was up with that?😮
What the hell was up with that? Just starts smashing glass at the beach? 😮
8 months strong here and your videos gave me the push I finally needed to make the change! My life has changed in amazing ways. Thanks Mark.
Besides enjoying boredom, I enjoy celebrating, dancing flirting, friends, much more than ever. So doing all the things that made me anxious doing now sober is an amazing relief and great process. I am feeling like a superhero for myself. Finally I am learning to be how I always wanted to be in an amazingly healthy way.
Wtf the beach glass
After 42 years of heavy drinking, I am 2 years sober. I am loving sobriety like the end of a summer romance. It won't end as long as I don't drink. My life was worthless garbage, and now it's great. I literally went from being homeless and unemployable to having a good job and living in a nice neighborhood in less than 2 years! That's insane! 😮
Great video. I quit drinking twenty years ago and I'm so glad that I did. I just sent your video to my 21-year-old son to watch. He will learn a lot from it too. Thanks.
I experienced a similar thing, that being content with simple 'boring' things, less excitement and novelty etc but it wasn't quitting drinking - it was turning forty.
I'm from Berlin and have been drinking since I was 13 years old. Berlin is known for its techno, legendary parties, and vibrant cultural scene.
However, over the past 10 years, I've noticed that many people here are superficial and lack profound goals. It's easy to get lost in this city and use alcohol as an identity anchor.
Last year, I decided to abstain from alcohol for three months, and it was a rewarding experience. While I did return to the habit in the summer as Berlin came alive, this year I've been completely clean for over four months. Since December, I haven't touched alcohol and I feel great about it.
I resonate with many points Mark makes in his video. I used to consider myself extroverted and loud, but I discovered many introverted sides to myself, such as my love for reading, education, and writing stories that captivate me. I had these interests as a child but suppressed them, thinking I had to constantly go out and party.
I'm grateful to have left that lifestyle behind. There's a possibility of relapse, but I no longer see a reason to consume alcohol or define myself by it. I've realized that my circle of friends is toxic in this regard, so I'm increasingly distancing myself from it. At the same time, I'm building my own business as a TH-camr and focusing on my personal growth and happiness.
You just earned your first subscriber!
and now you have your second subscriber from Freiburg😉
I also live in Berlin and have been sober for more than a year. Would love to connect.
I'm pretty heavily involved in the music scene in London and a little conflicted on this. I think there is actually so much merit to music and parties in almost a spiritual sense if used as a tool intentionally. Just when the cycle of abuse starts where it can get ugly.
There are some great english speaking AA meetings in Berlin. 11 yrs sober this year.
#me too! 😂 I’m 3 plus months in on no drinking and I’m all in on never going back myself. Thanks Mark for what you do! Your books have had a profound impact on my life for many years now. Truly appreciate your insight. ❤
Thanks for posting the vid! I was an adrenaline junkie as well- an avid surfer, skydiver, sailor, rock climber, etc. After around 10 years sober, I realized I just don't need that much stimulation anymore. My definition and experience of 'fun' has transformed. I actually enjoy tranquility nowadays, some 9,522 days sober, but who's counting ;-)
"Dull but happy". I'm not sure I'm entirely sold on the concept!
I guess he's underplaying his happiness here , just finding the simple life more pleasurable.
I agree. I am on a sober journey as well as not sold on this!
Well done on the 500 days! Thank you for the update and the reflection on your relationships, hobbies and drive! I also appreciate you mentioning how spontaneity was a *high* and not really that fulfilling as you are not plugged into anything long enough to gain true joy from it or to become masterful or attached. Wise reflection. Anyhow, I am cheering you on! I am also working on my own journey again. Your videos help!
im sober for 17yrs
& I'm 17
😂
I like you comment but didn't hit like coz that would make your like count 18... 😅
@@parulairenart im 18 now
hit the like button 👍
This all sounds like a lot more internal change than just not drinking. I took a look at my health and realized this was a choice I had to make. And its been good. Many of the revelations you go through in this video sound to me like my process over the decades, like maturity. I'm happy for you. You will look back on this as when you made real progress..
Growing older, we mostly do change our drinking habits, I agree--I'm talking about social drinkers, not alcoholics. We go out less, our interests alter. Myself, I started experiencing hangxiety. It's really unpleasant, and to avoid it I have pretty much given up drinking. I've experienced many of the changes Mark talks about, though I put them down also to maturing and evolving with age.
@@ivat957 I had no such problem. Loved it but did the math and after 40 years of drimking I had to quit before my liver turned technicolor and my belly reached my knees. So be it, its fine. I'm glad I was able to quit and the benefits are real.
Exactly!
Damn, i tick every box. Drank more than 15y, diagnosed with adhd with 12, far more introverted than i thought… i‘m sober 8 days now and i already feel new, my gym sessions got harder and better. And oh god the sleep it‘s wonderful. Can‘t wait for more results to show 😍
48 hours sober. My life has changed dramatically.
Stay in the game!
Today 500 days, too. Best decission I made. So much better in every aspect.
I did a 7 mile trail hike/run this morning. When I was done, I took out a chair, put it in the shade, and did my work. Exercise is a big part of loving sobriety - getting a bit exasperated from something (other than drink) and actually chilling afterwards... gotta do it. Gotta find that radness somewhere, and then sit with it. All the neuro/physiological shit is already happening... you just gotta sit with it and watch. We all want something to happen - mindfulness is there for you, if you just take a moment. Rad vid. Gratitude.
Who else is wondering, "WTF, Mark, I hope you cleaned up all of that glass you shattered!" ??? ;)
LOL you crazy if you think these influencer types are capable of thinking about others, he got his video, did the ad read, who cares if there is glass everywhere.
@@DearDextrayou must be miserable.
Same. What a douce if he didn't. And he probably didn't
Of course he didn't clean, even, he want, it's impossible, what a shame.
I didnt understand why he brought the bottles and set them up. But when he started to golf them....i couldt watch anymore. How meaningless !!!
Just hit 1 month sober, a small milestone, and I’ve been having some doubts, this is exactly the video I needed to see 🙏🏼
You have been such an inspiration. I quit 4 months ago and am facing some of the situations you’ve described. I am sure there’s so many more to come. In general, I feel much more present in life and this is great (and also challenging, because you look both the good and the bad stuff right in the eye). Still dealing with light cravings that last less than 1 second, and when I do, I come to your videos to recharge my energy. Thank you! As to the boredom - it is minimized by the fact I have an energetic 6 yo boy😂❤
"Not drinking has helped me consider my actions better"
* smashes glass bottles with a golf club in a nature reserve
Watching this hungover. No more!
Almost sober a year now and this couldn’t have come out at a better time. Life has been really rough lately and I’ve been craving the bottle so much. Thank you for everything you’ve put out so far Mark. Just finished rereading the subtle art also. You help so many of us ❤️
Learning new ways to self-soothe is really essential for long term success. Try to find what you truly emotionally crave and give yourself that. Don't punish yourself for your emotional needs ❤ that's what helped me.
Congrats Mark. You look way better physically 💪
Such an inspiring journey! It's remarkable how you've navigated through challenges post-alcohol and found contentment in simplicity and commitment. The insights on pleasure and productivity are really thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing your impactful story!
I don’t drink and it’s definitely true when he says life feels more boring. My social life is very small almost non existent, I struggle to enjoy trips sometimes, I don’t really commit to anything, I have had no intimacy with anyone these past couple of years and I don’t know what makes me happy. I am going to therapy for this at the moment because it’s impacting my mental health a lot in ways you can’t believe. I find it interesting when mark said that when you lack intimacy and happiness you fill the void with novelty and excitement which makes sense for me because I hate when everyday feels the same. Whereas lots of people I know are so relaxed with having a consistent routine. I know one thing I want to do with my life and that is to be a father and a loving partner and as cringey as that sounds, since I was a young teen I’ve always had that dream. In therapy I started to realise that I didn’t have much of an emotional connection with my parents and then when my friends and ex partners moved on I was left with just myself. Little to non emotional connection isn’t healthy because we are hard wired for connection and that’s what I’m working on with my therapist at the moment.
I got up to six months and then had a week off whilst in Poland, now back to square one. I have to keep watching videos like these to remind me that excitement and fun are definitely not the same, and when everyone around you is drinking in the sunshine in the UK (which is rare for us to have sunshine) that they are ultimately paying to be someone else and I simply don't want to do that anymore. And I did take up crotchet and it is just lovely, I thoroughly recommend. Love your work Mark, please never stop.
5 years here 😊. I will NEVER go back
Keep up the good work
Congrats!! I've been sober 6 months now, having been a chronic drinker till them. I don't see myself ever going back. I just feel so much better. Alcohol was great at the time, but I'm happier without it.
I had a similar experience quitting smoking cannabis for a year.
Congrats! I jus hit TWO years!! I will never go back! Life is so much better!
Thank you Mark for sharing your story
I am an on again off again alcoholic... It has gotten worser and worser as I age. I'm 37 and began drinking heavily at 17-ish. I have ALWAYS been an anti-social drinker, in fact I hate being around people consuming booze because we are so annoying. I absolutely love going to the liquor store, buying my booze, coming home and throwing the hard liquor in the freezer and then taking ice cold shots in front of my computer until I get drunk, have some food and pass out. Usually I never remember the passing out part.
But, it's destroyed everything... I've lost jobs, girlfriends, been to jail, detox, hospitalized many times and have suffered the worst of the worst alcohol withdrawal that I'm SHOCKED my brain hasn't imploded on itself with all the shaking and hallucinations I have gone through. It's absolute hell, but the moment I feel better I want more...and I usually get more.
A few months ago I hit my absolute zenith in terms of boozing. I was drunk for a month straight. STRAIGHT. With nothing but hard liquor delivered to my apartment over and over and over. At least I had the sense not to drink and drive this time. This being said after about two weeks into this my parents basically barged into my apartment after not hearing from me for 2 weeks and found me passed out surrounded by gin bottles. They took me to the hospital where they treated me. A few days later I was still very shaky, but then something snapped and I don't remember the next two weeks at all. I vaguely remember "coming to" and not knowing what day or time it was, but somehow I ALWAYS got more booze. I know I got it delivered because it was on my card transactions, but the fact I was able to fake being sober (or even stand up due to withdrawal AND intoxication) long enough to give the delivery person my ID is incredible... Eventually I called my mother and was taken to the hospital again and forced to stay for three days as they kept me for withdrawal and everything that comes with it.
I was sick for almost a month, and I mean truly sick. The first two weeks I could barely get out of bed or keep anything in my body. I couldn't eat, threw up all the time and was a mess... I had to file for a leave of absence from work and finally admit to my company that I was an alcoholic who needed help.
So, fast forward. Since I returned to work in December 2023 I was doing really well. I had medication for booze craving (Naltrexone), I had an addiction therapist, I had a new doctor, my job was just happy I was back and I was finally able to move out on my own (I CRAVE being alone)... I thought I had finally beat it. Then in late April I had another bout, this time it was only a week, but it was the same pattern again... Lay in bed, downing booze, getting it delivered. This time I caught it early and called my mom to be taken to the hospital, which I was only there for a few hours.
My point is... I don't think I'll ever be rid of booze. Ever. It's too powerful. My brain is TOO hooked on it. My habits are TOO focused on it... And you know what? Part of me enjoys the rotting away of my body and brain. The death drive. The wanting of not to exist. I firmly believe my booze trip back in October 2023 was a suicide attempt and it would not shock me if I ended up doing it again, only this time PLANNING it instead of it just happening.
This was a great video, but sadly I'm too far gone. I'm essentially just waiting for it to kill me now.
Good advice but did you really smash glass all over a nature area?
Stopped drinking alcohol about 25 years ago. I got much pickier about things I do, the people I interact with and other things. Live got certainly better.
Drinking isn’t fun. It's cope.
Glad I stumbled upon this, the comment section is very inspiring too. I'm in AA almost 60 days clean. Looking forward to that 1 yr mark
Doing the lords work over here Mark
I love dancing but I used to spend a fortune on Alcohol and food anytime I went out. I no longer do that. I now eat at home before I go out, and drink water or diet soda when I go out. I still have a blast dancing to the live music, burn off some stress and calories in the process, and then go home. I also don't have to deal with being tired and hung over the next day, and I don't have to pay for a Taxi or Uber to get home, so I save a LOT of money.
The weird thing about it is I never really likely Alcoholic drinks that much in the first place. I only started drinking to fit in with social groups. So I was literally spending money on something that brought me no joy at all.
I still more or less have the same friends, and sometimes they buy me a drink when we go out. However, i've told them when they do buy me a drink I won't be buying them one in return. That got the message across quickly that I was serious.
I just asked siri “ how many days have passed since 21 st of October 2022” Turned out it’s been 555 days since I stopped drinking. I’m so happy that I stopped counting days 😃
Really appreciate your video, I stopped drinking alcohol around 3 months ago. It started as a self-experiment but man, it changed so many things for the better. I lost weight, I sleep better, I do more exercise, I am more productive. Exactly as you describe. And it is not so awkward as I thought to go out with people who drink. At least the first few drinks. Then I am amused to see how people's behaviour changes for the worse and thank god I am not not behaving like this anymore. It was a shock to see and realize that I was one of them before. It looks like people use alcohol to cope with something else in their life but not realising that stopping to drink will actually improve their lives for the better. I am not craving drinks, I do not think about alcohol, I just enjoy the many alternatives and the feeling of taking good care of my body and soul. Highly recommendable.
Looking good bro. Also you need a permit to smash bottles with a golf club, I'm calling LA Film on you!
If anyone's wondering about the classical song at 2:30 it's Bach's Cello Suites Prelude in G major, I've had it stuck in my head for months😅
I'm sober for 4+ years and it's been the BEST thing I've ever done for my mental health. I had no idea how much alcohol was jacking up my mental health until I got sober. I'm not dissing therapy but I've not found the need to sit in a therapist's office since I quit drinking.
Why does the alcohol debate online appear to be between going teetotal or going to the club every weekend and drinking oneself into a coma? Skip the club, enjoy a glass of wine with a book. Abstention is tedious, addiction is ruinous, cheers to the middle! 🍷
not everyone can moderate like that, one is not enough. Everyone's brains reacts differently.
For some people (like myself) moderation is not a possibility. Being 100% alcohol free is the only way for me to live and not ruin my life. And having just 1, 2 or even 3 drinks is painfully depressing.
Once I start I can’t stop. That being said you’d be shocked at how bad one drink can screw with your hormones. Alcohol is poison, even one glass of wine will have to be processed by your body, then you will have to recover from it. You probably don’t notice because you’re so used to it.
You have a single glass once a day?
Ive been sober for 2 years. I didn't drink, go out, have shit loads of sex, or any of that. I would get drunk at my house and have a blast playing video games, drawing, and whatever other hobbies I did. I went to the gym a ton, still do now. I gave it up because I Woke up feeling like I need to go to the e.r. because I thought I was a blink away from death, and I spent too much money on ebay. I had no control. So I gave it up. I can honestly say I have noticed 0 differences other than those few negative things being gone. I enjoyed it, and I do miss it. But being sober, I feel I have gone this long, may as well keep going.
Your path in the last 500 days closely parallels mine. I was never a big drinker, but more generally I chose to slowly amputate all forms of cheap dopamine from my life: alcohol, weed, junk food, parties with people I don't know or care about, etc. This forced me to fill the void with something actually meaningful. Now I've never been more peaceful and fulfilled, despite being less social and spontaneous. My desire for novelty has tended towards zero. Thank you for clarifying my mind.
A good quote from Joe Delaney (search him on here, his videos are great) re: the whole "lack of fun/excitement" thing that often snags people early in their sober journey:-
"Most days in life will be mundane. Sometimes you will do good shit, but for the most part you have to make doing shit good".
Loved this quote as soon as I saw it and links in nicely with a stoic attitude about accepting your surroundings etc and making the absolute most of every present moment.
This is why i like people like mark. They had a problem they over come it and they share their views. Not just quoting 100 other people as some so called productivity "EXPERT" or "GURU" does.
Don’t break glass like this in nature! What the heck, Mark. This really sucks😞😞
He replied above that they cleaned up after the shot.
He cleaned it up!
I think we were all a bit shocked at that part of the video!
In 10 million years it will be sand
Report him to the police! Clown.
It was not until I stopped drinking that I realized how much of my life revolved around alcohol. I invested my newfound time and energy ( because I was now properly sleeping) in reading, learning, work and exercising. I have tripled my income, am more emotionally stable and can think clearly.
1st day sober!!
I’m about 600 and best choice I have ever made. My hubby struggles with addiction and I knew I could not continue to drink as my priority was to support him and his journey. My health is so much better. And the calm mind I never expected.
Please make a video on your amazing weight loss next!
Yes pls I am skinny and would love it
3:58 other good habits take over
5:29 more commitments, not fewer
6:10 Sponsor Spiel
7:22 back on topic - commitment's
8:19 productivity boost
Insightful video Mark. Congratulations on your sober journey
I never drank in my life and I always find it fascinanting what goes through situations like this.
Yo mark your the 🐐! Your words and experience helped me a lot through my fucked up teenage life, keep it up, hope I'll meet you one day.